In 2011, the Sister Wives Blog started out as a place to talk about the TLC reality show "Sister Wives", Kody Brown and his wives Christine, Robyn, Meri and Janelle. Today we not only discuss the show, we discuss Polygamy in our society, and the public perceptions of the Mormon Religion. We discuss "Polygamy USA" and will be covering "My 5 Wives." This blog is geared towards the adult reader, so please, no one under the age of 18 years. Thank you!
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Just out of curiosity, after reading this blog for a while now, it seems that 99 +% of those who comment have nothing good to say about the Browns. It seems to be implausible that there is not something that is good. I mean they seem to take proper care of the children. They see that they are getting an education,( and I agreed with Kody that it was something Mariah needed to consider when deciding on which college to attend- the other children and the cost of where she wanted to go. Most people do not go to the very best to start with, you can always transfer at a later date) they are clean, fed and despite what has been said here they appear to love them. There does not seem to be physical abuse and no sexual abuse.
ReplyDeleteYes I can see the women do not get along as "best friends" but I would think that would be a norm in this sort of relationship. It was not something I found surprising. I am reading their book and it provides background information as to why the individuals have formed the connections to each other that they have done.
While they may not be the best example of family life in America the hate and disgust I see on your site is also not the most constructive. It would seem that the general opinion is that if you are a polygamist then you must also be stupid, brain washed and just generally unable to deal with a "normal life". Does this apply to every relationship that is non traditional?
Just trying to understand where you guys are coming from.
Hi Anon 11:33,
DeleteThe people who comment on this blog are so diverse, that is difficult to answer. My feeling is that generally there is not hate and disgust but rather frustration at the dichotomy of how the Browns attempt to present themselves (happy and tolerant) vs. how they behave (unhappy and stunted and intolerant). Their holier-than-thou attitude is quite annoying. There are also negative views about their bankruptcies prior to doing the show and fundamentalism mormonism in general. And a healthy dose of the enjoyment of watching a trainwreck and enjoying snarky gossip thrown in.
Personally I am pretty liberal minded and support religious tolerance and gay marriage. However, after reading the articles and videos educating about polygamy, I am firmly against it. There is quite a bit of info about polygamy in the SWB archives. But I certainly don't hate anybody, though I am guilty of enjoying the snark and gossip. I guess following the Browns as celeb characters is easier than keeping up with whomever the current Paris Hilton replacements are in the gossip magazines. I don't actually watch any TV at all ... we don't even turn it on in our house other than for my daughter to watch videos ... so this blog is my primary media entertainment and gossip. The journalism is excellent and keeps me coming back.
Hi Anon 11:33 -- I agree with all of Mastiff's comments. I am extremely tolerant and support all religious beliefs. Definitely a live and let live kind of gal. When I started watching the show, I genuinely wanted to learn more about their religion and way of life. However, I quickly was frustrated by their hypocritical ways and falsehoods. They said from the start how happy they were, but episodes quickly became sobbing messes where one or all of the wives was unhappy, jealous and feeling neglected in some way. Regardless of whether you support polygamy, it can't be ethical or moral to court a new wife while one of your wives is pregnant and it's especially vulgar to be making out with your new "girl toy" while your wife is in labour. Kody claims that he spends extra quality time with wives when they are pregnant and have just given birth, but then he's chasing Robyn instead of being with Christine. Why does Kody harass Meri about giving him an answer about whether she wants to try to have another child, but then when doesn't support her when she says she may like to try. He says that it's the wife's choice whether they want more kids, but he contradicts himself once again. The women try to portray themselves as being independent women and Kody portrays himself as being liberal-minded, but their actions show that they are not.
DeleteThey moan and complain about their finances, but then go out and buy really expensive houses. Why was it OK for all the kids and the first three wives to live comfortably in one big house, but suddenly 4 huge houses are necessary? Especially when one's money is tight and credit is crap. Why is it that they all move to the same cul-de-sac, but Christine lets it slip that she hasn't seen Kody for days -- wasn't the whole point of moving close to each other so that he could at least see each of his wives and children daily?
Lately, it's been the Brown's intolerance towards others that has been irking me. There are snide comments by Robyn about how monogamists can never understand or appreciate the joys of polygamy or how a monogamist therapist wouldn't be able to fully understand them. Kody puts down feminists and hippies and makes fun of people who use crystals and meditate. I'm tired of how they portray everyone that's not a polygamist as antagonistic towards their beliefs and I'm tired of their victim mentality.
I don't hate the Browns (and I actually really like the teenage Brown children!). I do wish they would stop being so judgmental. I also wish they would either stop complaining about being broke or be more financially responsible if they really are broke. If they aren't broke, then they shouldn't just pretend to be so they can have an "interesting" story line.
AnonymousSeptember 25, 2013 at 11:33 PM
DeleteI think this and the two below pretty well sums it up. I hope that answers your question.
So, let's move on and discuss other things! Thanks!
Why should we "move on and discuss other things?" This seems like a topic many would be interested in, especially those new to the blog. I have read this blog for a very long time, and I still appreciate hearing others' views on the Browns. I don't understand why, if the issue is taking up a lot of room, that a page 2, 3, 4, etc. couldn't be added. I don't understand. Please explain why you want to end this topic. Thank you.
DeleteBecause you were judging the commenters and that is usually not allowed. they need not defend their comments. If you would like to add positive comments, that is great!
DeleteI'm Anon 10:39. I did not post the original comment (Anon 11:33 did). So, no I had nothing to do with "judging other commenters." You are mistaken.
DeleteWell Anon 10:39, little hard to know with using anonymous. I hope that did answer your question though! Thanks!
DeleteAnon 11:33, I understand what you are saying. I also struggle with the amount of degrading comments towards the Brown's I read here. I am a child of polygamy. My parents left AUB when I was 8 years old. I don't think of, or talk about my parents the way a lot of posters here talk about the Browns. My parents got into something, they thought they wanted to do, yet did not fully understand. They had some very difficult times while belonging to AUB. Getting out was even harder. My parents thought long and hard about the decision to become part of AUB and the decision to leave. They were where they were at those points in their life. They did not deserve to be made fun of. I think of the Browns in that same way.
DeleteYou parents did not go on National TV an act out either. BIG difference. These guys not only did TV, they made ridiculous story arcs and fed the public far too many untruths to have respect. There lies the problem, it's a totally different thing. They are TV sitcom stars. That' makes for fodder.
DeleteMister Sister, Anon 6:09 here: The Browns are like alcoholics who are still drinking. Think of it that way.
DeleteI think everyone here did not start off being hateful and disgusted. But the Browns really do put the drama out there for people to criticize. They started off that way with Janelle driving a crappy car to work, Christine being pregnant, Kody driving off in his Lexus to meet his new girlfriend during this time. Robyn being an interloper. The fact that this man does not see his kids everyday. Kody picking out Robyn's dress. Kody kissing Robyn during the delivery of Truely. King Soloman being favored over Truely. The telling by Kody that Christine disgusted him when he first met her by the nacho eating. There's just too much to judge. They put their lifestyle out for everyone to see the good in it, yet it's so easy to see the bad. I felt bad for all of these women, well except Robyn, at first. I like coming here to discuss the show because really I don't know any of my own friends who watch the show.
ReplyDeletethe proeblem with the browns, one of many, is the in authintic representation of these family memebrs for money..we have had to drill down the brown comments and explanations to come to these conclusions. the browns are responsible for their on air persona, not us
ReplyDeleteThose photos of Robyn grooming herself remind me of something. I've had a few cats in my lifetime and they have many of the same moves. Adult cats groom themselves 50% of their waking hours, mainly for protection against potentially threatening predators. I think it's natural instinct and she can't help it.
ReplyDeleteIf Utah is such a scary place for them, why were Robyn and Kody shopping in Salt Lake City... I bet these klowns just love fans recognizing them and posing for pics in public. They are fame whores, no doubt about it.
ReplyDeletehttp://socialitelife.com/photos/sister-wives-husband-marries-fourth-wife/kody-brown-and-fourth-wife-in-salt-lake-city-4
I don't know anything about the legality of using photos you find online, but Mister Sister--you might want to use picture number 17 from the link anon 9:53 posted. It's a fabulous pic of Sobbyn!
DeleteThese are good. They have been around awhile though, this was before their move, not recent. I believe in 2010. Thanks for posting these, folks will enjoy them, but it was before they got "scared" of the mean police men.
DeleteLooking at these pictures (October 2010), I can't help but feel so sad for the 6-month old baby who is at home, missing out on having a father who loves and can't wait to spend time with her. I guess by number 12, it is all just boring and stinky mess.
DeleteSince TLC is in the mood for more plyg shows.. thought I'd pitch them a few more this morning. (You may think of some of your own.. so feel free to add yours and snark along with me.)
ReplyDeletePlyg-O-Cats – Animated show about a mean, beady-eyed tom cat with 9 lives….er I mean wives that reside with a cat hoarder. Nobody is spayed or neutered.
Plyg-O-My-Heart – Set in the Irish highlands, this show actually is a bit of a hybrid show for TLC – incorporating Little People, Irish Travelers (gypsies) and Plygs. A plyg little person who is a gypsy roams Europe plying his grifter ways. He’s not in the paving or construction business. No, this one sells fake iconic jooolry out of the trunk of a sports car. Cladaugh rings made of authentic pewter.
Prarie Plyg – No, it is not a show about sister wives wearing prarie dresses – it’s about real live prarie dogs living the plyg lifestyle. Imagine Meercat Manor meets Polygamy USA. These critters actually do live the plyg lifestyle and the sister wives in these family units are known for going postal on one another. Look it up. True fact.
The Dating Game – Plyg style – Wanna-be-sister wives compete to court a plyg man who asks them questions about their purity and willingness to be his breed mare. He can consult with an OBGYN and psychic in the audience for a second opinion.
Plyg Family Feud – Plyg husbands compete with their families and win prizes such as fancy cars, high-end motorcycles and additional hot plyg wives. Husbands must successfully answer questions like, “What is your 12th child’s favorite TV show,” and “What is the name of your 9th child’s teacher.”
The Big Love Boat – A dozen plyg families take a cruise together but disaster strikes and they wind up on a deserted island where they must cooperate to survive until help can arrive. You can guess how this series ends….
No that's funny, I don't care who you are! ha ha
DeleteHahahahahahahaha.... LOVE IT!!
DeleteThe Mormon Hunger Games. Put a polygamist and his wives in an arena, the women fight to the death, and the last one living earns the man.
DeleteHow about The Biggest Breeder. Two teams of polygamists and their wives live together in a camp and compete on who can make more babies. Every week the wives are given vaginal ultrasounds at a nice, humiliating ceremony.
DeletePlygchelor...a dating game where you get to pick four women for date nights. Then you marry one and keep the other three on the side.
DeletePlygchelorette....a dating game where single women get to pick four guys for date nights. Then while you are having fun, your once a week live in is having conniptions at home and being nauseous because he thinks it is so vulgar. Then you say to him, cry me a river, now you know how it feels.
oh these are funny, thanks for the laugh! Too tired to add, but not to enjoy. Thanks for adding to one fun blog!
DeleteToo funny. For Plyg Family Feud, some of the fathers might have trouble just answering "what is your 12th child's name?" or "what is your 9th child's birthday?"
DeleteLet's not forget:
"How I Met Your Mothers" seasons and seasons of fun! Look how long it took to reveal how Ted met his wife in the original series, can you imagine if you multiply (the love) by 4 or 5. In this series, the father will have to remember which kid belongs to which mother when he tries to tell the story of how he met their particular mother.
Another TLC show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" can be transformed into "My Big Fat Plural Marriage Re-commitment Ceremony". Maybe the wives can all wear those outrageous gypsy gowns with 20 pounds of bling on them...modestly designed of course.
DeleteOh Boston Corgi... "My Big Fat Plural Marriage Re-commitment Ceremony" has me ROTFLMAO! Totally can see Twisted Sister Wife coming up with a doozy illustration for that show.
DeleteSome other shows they might try out:
Extreme Plyg Home Makeover - Plyg families are chosen each week to have their homes made over to accommodate a new wife or separate feuding wives.
On the Couch - At first sight you think this show is about plygs in therapy - but it is actually about a lazy plg man trying out different couches and recliner chairs. Each week a different furniture store is featured.
Best Little Plyg House in Texas -- Movie of the Week -- Amazing polygamist Krody Brownly moves into a whorehouse and miraculously all the women regain their purity!
DeleteDancing with the Plygs -- 1 professional dancer (male) and 10 polygamist wives. The women wear long sleeved t'shirts under their dancing outfits, but of course the pro (male) can wear tight pants or even his big boy panties. Each week one is eliminated by a panel of prophets.
Heee heee Canadian Ginger... good ones.. Funny you should mention a whorehouse themed show. I have been wondering recently whether TLC will be so desperate for storylines for the Klowns that they'll have Kodpiece visit the Mustang Ranch in Nevada. Prostitution is legal there, you know, and apparently according to their advertising you can order 4 girls at once. I'm thinking it would make the audition process for wifey # 5 go much faster...
DeleteThe obvious one is Extreme Wife Swap - a suburban mom swaps places with a wife of a fundamentalist Mormon.
ReplyDeleteHow about if all the plyg wives swap with the one suburban mom. So the plyg husband can't go running from house to house as he will only have one wife and the monogamist husband ends up with a bunch of unhappy wives vying for his attention.
DeleteAll the ones you've added are terrific! Keep em coming.
DeleteI dislike Meri with each passing episode/season. The scenes with Meri, Mariah and Kody make me see red. Mariah and Meri declaring that Mariah will get what she wants.. I'm solely in the Janelle/Christine camp. Well I was put off by Christine this.season... ican't believe I watched it...I kicked the Real Housewives and I will.kick the sister wives viewing too.
ReplyDeletebtw..does anyone.else think their children are terribly behaved??
I give their children a lot of latitude when it comes to behavior we see on the show. Can you imagine how disruptive it would be to have a camera crew in your house filming your family? You just know that when the cameras are there the Klowns have also been preening for hours ahead of time in front of the mirror with their make up artists, stylists and talent agent etc...
DeleteWouldn't a Sister Wives halloween special be cool? Imagine everyone's costumes. Meri better get her sewing machine out to make them cause it's only a little more than a month away now. Sobbyn definitely will be going as the french maid, Meri - a witch as usual of course, Christine is tinkerbell, Janelle is wonder woman this year for all her weight loss. I vote for sending baby Kody out trick or treating with just his diaper.
ReplyDeleteHas everybody submitted their Adams Family tune songs to Mister Sister yet as she solicited? Here's my initial stab at it.
They’re four wives then there’s Kody
We often call him grody
He ain’t no prince, he’s toady
Hooray for TLC
Their houses are gigantic
He’s known for being manic
The women all are frantic
Hooray for TLC
Speculation’s brewing
Paychecks they’ll be eschewing
As we all curb our viewing
Hooray for TLC
Stay sweet
Wash feet
Do tweet
So pass the caramel candy
And Kody you stay randy
Your show has just been dandy
Hooray for TLC
This is so great! Love the "stay sweet, wash feet, do tweet" !
DeleteI think that the Browns created their own public image and oh my, the review on here have always been hard hitting and fun! The Browns image cause them problems, The lousy way they are trying to make us see half truth is causing them great problems across the board. Me, I am in it for the fun light-hearted stuff that always shows up here, thanks for the laughs!
ReplyDeleteLate to come back to the party! Looks like Plural Ants is rocking today! Thanks for the laughs from the review, and all these comments!
ReplyDeleteRobyn is posting pregnant photo idea's on Pintrest
ReplyDeleteWell, Sobbin is at it again on Pinterest....pinning maternity photoshoot ideas and baby photoshoot ideas....hmmmm....somebody got a bun in the oven??
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be surprised if she were pregnant. Kody has been very upfront about his desire to have a lot more children and Robyn is currently the only wife what is willing and/or able. I also think that part of the reason Kody seemed to change his mind about Meri trying to having another baby was that he and Robyn have been planning a baby and he didn't want to have to take his attention away from Robyn if she were to get pregnant.
DeleteI was really kindof surprised by one of the photo idea's. Is really gonna take picture of herself, Kody, and Soloman half naked? I really don't get her purity logic.
DeleteI like the show. The kids are being raised amazingly. I am a little tired of hearing how abusive polygamy is. I've only know about and changed from mainstream LDS to believing in the principle of plural marriage in the last 2 years. I would love to become a sister wife myself. That being said I've lived monogamy and I lived in extreme abuse. It's everywhere not just in polygamy. I'm in the process of trying to figure out how to join the AUB so I can hopefully join the family I know I belong to. I have to admit that there's a lot of funny comments in this blog. I also am wordering if you all will say I've been brainwashed into believing in the principle? I am not from a plural family and wasn't raised to believe in it. I've chosen it as a adult and I have to add that had I known about it as a teen I would of chosen it then.
ReplyDeleteAnd we wish you all the best! Now, here's why positive posts usually don't make the cut. do you really have the need to smart off to other commenters to make your point? The Browns are on a show, just like The Real Housewives. they are open for debate and fodder.
DeleteNO ANSWERS TO HER QUESTION OF BRAINWASHING will be posted. Anony 1:48, I suggest you post from now on not judging the other posters to make it in. We wish you the best, and if you'd like to share, that's great. Thanks!
Okay, I have been a reader of this blog for a while now and am finally saying something. I live in LV and have had a run in with the Kodster. He happens to bank at the same bank I do. Of course since in his mind he is a celebrity he thought he could jump in line. Well, the Texas girl don't take that kind of crap because I happen to be at the window he wanted to use. I asked him politely to move back to the line since I was already there. He asked if I knew he was and I of course I replied Kodster and keep on moving away. The bank teller was laughing so hard. Said he does that all the time. Like he doesn't have to wait in line. Please he does not appear to work so he can wait like the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteOMG! I can't BELIEVE he said "do you know who I am" !!!! He really is full of himself. Does he think this is a Christ-like way to act? Would "heavenly father" try to cut in line?
DeleteThat is funny!!
ReplyDeletePoor impulse control. But, then again. We already knew that didn't we.
ReplyDeletePoor impulse control along with a hefty persecution complex...I'm sure he's convinced being sent to the back of the line was solely because he's a polygamist & and not because he was cutting!
DeleteMaybe he is always in a panic to get to the head of the line because his account is overdrawn and he needs to make a deposit fast!
DeleteI've been reading here for years (love you guys!), and I *almost* posted after the debate episode, but the group therapy thing made me angry enough to take the plunge.
ReplyDeleteI did miss the first fifteen minutes of the show, so I don't know why Christine didn't want to go, but what the hell was wrong with them? Therapy is about being honest, open, and vulnerable, and group therapy is all about wanting to change and grow closer to the people you're with. It is NOT about whining and complaining and not wanting to be there, or avoiding topics that are hard. Those are the topics you're there to discuss!
Although them avoiding the hard subjects explains why Kody and Meri were talking to Mariah about college finances in her senior year of high school.
And I guess I can understand Robyn's concerns, but really, why does it matter that Nancy is a monogamous? She seemed open to helping them as best she could and making allowances for their situation. Isn't the therapist's training and knowledge more important than their living situation?
Kody overdoes the "smart" talk, and dissing the meditation was a jerk move, but he did have a point with the sister wives staying together after his death. And Robyn really needs to stop being the spokesperson for the family.
Tell-all episode!
I love Christine's kids. I really do. She's slightly insane, but that seems to have had a good effect on Aspyn and Mykelti as far as maturity goes.
Kody doesn't understand where Meri's coming from as far as the baby goes. I do think that "sitting on the no" was a good idea, but he really needs to accept the fact that she is technically an empty-nester, and taking care of someone else's kids isn't going to change that, or her feelings about it.
The "square peg in a round hole" analogy was awkward.
Is it just me, or was Janelle, especially, glaring at everyone? And am I the only one who wants to scream when they start talking about having "emotions" and how someone "expressed" something?
Having read the blog for a while, and being bored with this season's storyline, I started to watch the first few episodes on Netflix. Eye-opening to go back. The family functioned way more and was more interesting under one roof. Kinda reminded me why I got hooked on them because it was an interesting documentary in a way. Now it just seems like a fraud, basically unemployed people feeling entitled to half a million dollar homes each and so on.
ReplyDeleteIt was a trip to see Kody driving a Lexus even then (I didn't remember). Seems too extravagant for such a large family and in what looks like a rural area. While driving to work, Janelle talks of the perk of Christine being home cooking dinner, for example, while she is at work. Didn't mention Meri or Kody in that thought. hmmm Flashed in my head that Janelle & Christine should be a couple as they would function well and really don't need the other three.
Robyn was giggly like a teenager, so was Kody. What cracked me up and made me think of the blog was that Robyn's first speaking part in episode two mentions keeping her kids "safe." Crying multiple times, a photo of him with Robyn & her kids, wearing a little shirt over a long-sleeved one prior to her even moving in.
Oh, the dog Drake was there. Meri's hair length changed so it makes me wonder how long apart even though initial episodes were filmed. Thought I'd share.